New online PRAXIS review programs available for prospective math and science teachers

HONOLULU — Two new online programs are now available to support Hawaiʻi‘s prospective and veteran math and science teachers, just in time for them to prepare for the PRAXIS II Fall 2005 tests. Offered through the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa‘s Outreach College, the programs provide an in-depth, interactive, online preparation for the PRAXIS II Math and General Science content tests.

The programs were designed through a partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi and PLATO Learning Systems through a Rural Development Project grant. The Rural Development Project provided funds over two years to develop, establish, and plan for sustainability of these programs.

The launch of these study programs was announced recently by Maui Community College Chancellor Clyde Sakamoto and Dr. Paul McKimmy, director of outreach and technology at the UH Mānoa College of Education. Sakamoto is the principal investigator for the statewide Rural Development Project, which is supported by the U.S. Department of Labor. PLATO Learning Systems, which is the leading provider of personalized instruction and standards driven assessment with over 40 years experience in research-based education, collaborated with subject matter experts in science and mathematics in Hawaiʻi to produce the online learning programs aligned with the PRAXIS II tests.

Dr. Arnold Feldman, associate professor of physics and astronomy at UH Mānoa, and Evelyn Puaʻa of Hawaiʻi Pacific University‘s math department, collaborated with PLATO science and math developers to align the PRAXIS II concepts with appropriate online study material at many levels of review. Also included are customized quizzes, definitive vocabulary, and additional online resources.

In addition to the subject-specific knowledge, a mentor is available to students enrolled in the online programs. Registration for the programs is available through the UH Mānoa Outreach College for $100. Students have course access for five months. Once registered, students may access the programs through computer centers at UH Mānoa, Maui Community College, Kauaʻi Community College, UH Center, West Hawaiʻi, and the Molokaʻi and Lanaʻi Education Centers. Students can also access the courses from home, providing their computer systems meet certain requirements.

To register for the online courses, interested students should contact the UH Mānoa Outreach College at 1-800-862-6628. For more information about course content or methodology, contact Cecilia Fordham, program administrator for the RDP Teacher Training Project at UH Mānoa, at (808) 956-9678.